Entangled Publishing plans to launch a New Adult line!

Can you define Entangled’s vision of the New Adult genre?The definition of “new adult” varies widely. Some publishers position their NA books as adult romance with older characters, but the stories readers seem most interested in are set in a post-high school environment—sometimes college, sometimes not—where the protagonist steps into the real world for the first time and has to deal with the complications that come with the journey. As shiny new adults, these protagonists are being held accountable for major decisions for the first time in their lives, and realizing there are consequences—serious ones—for missteps. It’s a scary exciting time in our lives, and readers are clamoring for books that show this.

To that end, I want stories about 18 to 21 year olds experiencing their first taste of freedom—and responsibility—and falling into real love for the first time. Whether the character is in college or stuck in a dead-end job while her friends head off to school, we want to see the realization that the people who will stick by her aren’t necessarily the ones who swore to be her BFF, or the hot boyfriend she landed the night of prom. Not only do new adults have to decide who they are and what they stand for, they have to act on it. And that’s what our stories will be about.

Examples of the types of NA we’re interested in:Easy by Tammara Weber, Where She Went by Gayle Foreman, Hushed by Kelley York, Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols, Because of Low by Abbi Glines, Flat Out Love by Jessica Park, Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt, Slammed by Colleen Hoover, and Beautiful Disaster by Jaime McGuire, Ward Against Death by Melanie Card.

When does Entangled plan to launch the new adult line?

We’re planning to launch the line by Summer 2013. Readers have responded well to the new adult titles already on our list (HUSHED by Kelley York and WARD AGAINST DEATH by Melanie Card), so we’re excited to explore this subgenre further.

Since Entangled is primarily a romance publisher are there any preferred sub-genres you’re looking for?

Entangled readers expect a certain level of romance in all of our titles, so all submissions must contain strong romantic elements.

Are there any sub-genres you’re not looking for?

We’re open to all subgenres.

Are you interested in genres other than romance?

We accept books with romantic elements that aren’t necessarily “romances,” but again, our readers expect a certain level of romance in all our titles. Books that end with a “happy for now” or “happily ever after” are preferred.

What is the desired word count? Are you interested in novellas or short stories?

At this time, we’re considering stories in the 50k to 90k range. Novellas and short stories should still be sent to the Flirt and Ever After imprints.

Will the titles be available in print in stores like Barnes and Noble and Walmart?

Our new adult imprint will be digital-only, utilizing the same strategies as our wildly successful Brazen and Indulgence platforms. In the event a title hits national bestseller list, print distribution becomes a solid possibility.

What heat levels are acceptable for the new adult line?

Our target audience is teens ready for something a bit more mature, and (young) adult readers craving a bit more oomph from YA books. As such, heat levels will hover between the YA and adult romance genres depending on the storyline. This allows us to protect teens who may not be ready for erotic romance, but are ready to move beyond kissing into realistic college-aged relationships. We also love sexual tension, so I don’t anticipate adult readers being disappointed!

Any taboo topics that are not acceptable?

Rape meant to titillate, BDSM, erotic romance, bestiality… There aren’t really any stories I’d view as too taboo unless they incorporated one of those elements. We aren’t looking for issue books or anything that feels preachy, as in “This book will teach new college kids (insert Very Important Lesson here).”

When will you start taking queries for the new line?

We’re accepting queries for complete, polished manuscripts now.

How do writers query for the line?

Standard Entangled submission guidelines apply. Paste your one-page query letter and the first five pages of your manuscript into an email and send it to newadult-submissions(at)entangledpublishing(dot)com. Our editors will find you there!

Any specific themes or settings you’re looking for?

I’m currently most interested in contemporary romances and thrillers set in college, on summer break, or dealing with the aftermath of high school when a character’s friends have all gone off to school and he/she feels left behind.

Any exciting announcements you’d like to share?

YES! We’re going to hold a contest that lets bloggers name the New Adult imprint. These books are for you guys, so we figure everyone should get their say. The winner will not only have the honor of having chosen the winning name, but they’ll also receive a year’s supply of our new adult titles. Pretty awesome, right? Details for this contest will be unveiled soon. In the meantime, email sue(at)entangledpublishing(dot)com to be added to our list!

Heather Howland, Senior Editor
Heather Howland began editing in the legal, industrial, and technical sectors nine years ago while working as a Production Manager. Before joining the Entangled family, she worked as a freelance editor and as the acquisitions editor of a small romance publisher. She now edits popular authors such as NYT bestseller Katee Robert, USA Today bestseller Cari Quinn, Amy Andrews, and Laura Kaye, as well as up-and-coming authors Tonya Burrows, Leah Rae Miller, and Tara Fuller. Heather holds a BS in creative writing and psychology, and regularly teaches craft workshops for various organizations. Find her on Twitter at @HeatherHowland.

Very good news. ^_^ I'd been hesitant to query Entangled because the romance elements in my book are more of a subplot than anything else, but I think this means it's worth another shot. Bit worried about word count, but still. We'll see what happens.

It's at 126K. I know sci-fi and fantasy books tend to have higher acceptable word counts, but still. I've done ton of editing over the past nine months, and I know there's no way I could cut 36,000 words and still have a readable story.

It's so exciting to hear about industry embracing the new adult sub-genre. I really hope this move proves successful for Entangled Publishing, and I can't wait to see the books they publish as a result!